WTO Chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Dutch Trade Official Mark Jacobs were present at the signing ceremony where the announcement was made
The Netherlands has announced a renewed partnership with the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), committing CHF 1.3 million (approx. $1.59 million) over two years starting in 2025. The funding aims to bolster food safety and trade capacities in developing economies by strengthening compliance with international sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards.
The announcement was made during a signing ceremony attended by WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Mark Jacobs, Director for International Trade Policy and Market Regulation at the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Director-General Okonjo-Iweala expressed gratitude, highlighting that the Dutch contribution will enhance STDF initiatives that help farmers and small businesses in developing and least-developed countries (LDCs) access regional and global markets, thereby improving incomes, health, and livelihoods. She emphasized that SPS improvements are vital for addressing trade, sustainability, and public health challenges.
Representing the Netherlands, Mark Jacobs underscored the importance of agricultural trade to the Dutch economy and the need for robust food safety systems to build mutual trust and sustainable trade. He reaffirmed the Netherlands’ long-standing support for the STDF, which has included more than CHF 12.5 million in contributions since its inception.
The new funds will support innovative SPS capacity-building projects across developing countries, LDCs, and Small Island Developing States, aiming to enhance market access, food security, and economic resilience while addressing global challenges like climate change and gender inequality.
Since 2004, the STDF has funded over 250 projects, with 62 per cent of its resources directed toward LDCs. Applications for new project grants are open, with the next submission deadline set for August 1, 2025, ahead of the November STDF Working Group meeting.
The STDF is a global partnership involving the FAO, WHO, World Bank Group, WOAH, and the WTO, which also houses its Secretariat and manages the STDF Trust Fund.
